”I’ve always loved the idea of summer..

and sun, and all things hot!” Although Olaf might love the idea, summer and I have a love/hate relationship in Florida. Summer has always been one of my favorite seasons because I love hot weather. However, I’ve quickly realized that there are different types of “hot.” For example, a 90-degree day in Pittsburgh used to seem hot to me…until I moved to Florida. A 90-degree day in Florida feels like a 100-degree day in Florida because of the humidity. And with working in Animal Kingdom, you always want to add around another 10 degrees to that number because of our tropical areas. This time of year is also when you will see the most lizards. Scariest part of the lizards I see? They’re almost transparent. You can hardly see them on the walls or the ground because they are so light. And they come out of nowhere quickly (I’m not a big fan of them).

Today I had a pretty cool experience while working. A few members of the Orlando City Soccer Club came to Animal Kingdom to film for a promotion for showing kids how to keep our Earth as clean as possible with tasks such as walking, recycling, and throwing away trash. They incorporated some athletic skills as well to make it more fun. It was interesting to watch the film crew and cast during the process of all the different takes.

5 Months Down…

…and one to go. It still blows my mind that I’ve been working for Disney since February, and have exactly one month left until I pack everything up and move back to Pittsburgh. In the past couple of weeks, a lot has happened, and I haven’t really known how to put everything into words. Before going to bed on June 11, I found out one of my favorite up-and-coming artists, Christina Grimmie, was shot and killed twenty minutes away from me at a meet and greet after her concert. On the morning of June 12, I woke up to Facebook asking if I was safe. Little did I know, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history took place fifteen minutes away from my apartment. It shook me to the core. Just knowing how many young, beautiful lives were lost due to an act of terror in a place where people felt safe and free. My heart continues to go out to all of the families and friends of all of the victims. Two of my best friends/roommates received early releases from their programs. Maria left to go back to Illinois; Eilene to California. Both of them taught me so much about life in their own ways, and I miss them so much already. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun. Working at Disney doesn’t actually feel like work, though. I get to talk to people from all over the world every day, every little girl is a Princess, and I get to play with stuffed Yetis and bubble wands. I learn a lot as well. Not just about myself, but about others; how it’s okay to be yourself, and how everyone’s different, and to respect and accept every person. Not to mention the business and management skills I’m also taking away with this experience. But the most important thing I think I’ve learned so far? To soak in every possible second that you can. Especially after the last few weeks, I’ve learned that every second is a blessing, and time should be treasured. You never really know what can happen tomorrow.

Tonight (July 3, 2016) I was able to watch the “Celebrate America” fireworks in front of Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Because I wanted my family and friends at home to also be a part of the magic I was experiencing, I live streamed the fireworks via Facebook. The amount of friends that watched and commented made me realize that there really is no place like Disney World. No other place is as magical. I feel like I am in a whole other world from the minute I step into one of the parks, and that was what Walt wanted. For guests to be able to forget about the outside world while in Disney. And to think about leaving such a place in a month? Unbearable.

Not Your Typical Holidays

Holiday dinners in my family are usually held at either my parents’ house or my aunt’s house. They include the typical holiday food, depending on the time of year, and are filled with family, laughter, games, and catching up with loved ones. Holidays in Orlando, Florida? Not my typical plans. Before moving here, being away for the holidays never really crossed my mind. I wouldn’t be home for Easter Sunday, my brother’s birthday, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, my birthday, or the Fourth of July. Easter Sunday has been the only holiday that my family has been able to travel to Orlando for. And even though Easter dinner wasn’t in my dining room at home in Pittsburgh, I had my family from home and five of my roommates with me (who I consider family as well). Anyone for an Easter egg hunt around the World Showcase in Epoct? Followed by dinner at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville for Easter?  I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I also got to see Beyonce perform in Tampa a few weeks later. I pulled off a huge surprise for all of my family and friends in Pittsburgh and flew home for Mother’s Day! It was great to see everyone, and made leaving even harder than the first time. Working Memorial Day Weekend in Animal Kingdom, another major time for high capacity at Disney, took the place of cookouts, Kennywood Park, and Potato Patch fries. My birthday was spent at dinner with my best friends here, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, and the Ugly Stepsisters at the Grand Floridian, followed by Universal Citywalk. Holidays have been a little off the wall this year so far, but at the same time, they’ve been everything I could have asked for.

Magical Moments Happen

I’ve never seen a place so busy during Spring Break as Disney World. And by “Spring Break” I mean every single week from March – April. The amount of school groups, international groups, and sports teams is mind blowing. Talking to and taking care of over 30,000 guests a day starts to become very stressful and exhausting. BUT THEN SOMETIMES SOMETHING REALLY COOL HAPPENS AND YOU WANT TO CRY BECAUSE YOU’RE SO HAPPY. AND THEN SOMETIMES THREE REALLY COOL THINGS HAPPEN IN A MATTER OF A WEEK AND YOU WANT TO CRY HAPPY TEARS EVEN MORE! Working at Disney, we have things that we call “Magical Moments.” Whether these “moments” are making a guest’s experience better, replacing an item for a guest, giving out fastpasses, calling Goofy to sing Happy Birthday to a guest celebrating, or creating a magical moment for yourself, each one is special in its own way. Three of these magical moments just so happen to occur during one of the busiest times in Disney World:

• On one of my days off, my roommates and I decided to go adventure through Hollywood Studios. While walking to the Hollywood Tower of Terror, we had overheard a conversation between a dad and his nine-year-old son. The dad was asking his son why he wouldn’t teach him the “new dance craze,” the “whip and nae-nae.” The son responded by saying that he was embarrassing and that there were “way too many people around.” The dad looked at us and said, “I’m sure these girls know exactly what you’re talking about and could help you!” So we all proceeded to have a dance party in the middle of Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Studios. This might sound dumb to some, but it made our day. The family took pictures and said it would be one of their favorite memories of their whole vacation. It’s little things like this, that only last about five minutes, that stick with me.
• Believe it or not, celebrities come to the parks more often than people think. When the newest Disney movie, Zootopia, was premiering, Shakira stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and explored the parks. While I was walking to my break, I spotted a Guest Relations Cast Member (we call them “plaids” because of their costumes). Whenever there are one or more “plaids” with a group, it usually means that someone of importance is with them. I immediately recognized Shakira with her husband and son. Because we have to treat celebrities like any other guest, I calmly walked past them (even though I was freaking out on the inside). However, while walking past, she looked at me and said “Hey, how are you doing?” I “calmly” responded with “I’m awesome! How are you?” and she replied “Great, thank you!” I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SHAKIRA.
• Some special guests opt out of having plaids with them to try to blend in with the surrounding crowd more. The day after I met Shakira, while I was working in one of the shops, Terri and Robert Irwin (wife and son of the late Steve Irwin) came in to ask a few questions about the park. After answering their questions, Terri had mentioned how much she loved Animal Kingdom and all of the hard work she sees portrayed by all of the Cast Members when she visits.

Three magical moments in one week?! Working for Disney isn’t so bad after all 🙂

Namaste from Animal Kingdom!

I have visited Walt Disney World many times in the past; I’ve always loved Disney (and the warm weather). But having Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios basically in my backyard as my playgrounds? With unlimited use while you’re not working but they’re open? This was something I didn’t think I could ever get accustomed to. My roommates and I took full advantage of this privilege (after all, who wouldn’t want to play in Disney parks all day?) One of my favorite memories of this whole program happened during this time. It was around 11:15 p.m. and my roommate Gabriela, two of our friends and I decided to go to Magic Kingdom just because it was open until midnight and we felt like riding Big Thunder Mountain. Being able to go to the park to just ride one ride and then take pictures in front of the castle with no one else around – little things like these were something to look forward to for the next six months. I also found out during the first few days that I would be working in Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Merchandise. I work in Asia, and rotate between five different stores in my area, including around Expedition Everest. I learned some “themed language” for our area, including “Namaste” for “Hello” and “Have a great adventure” as a goodbye saying. I am also able to pick up Merchandise shifts in other parts of Animal Kingdom or any other park or resort on Disney property (so far, I’ve worked in Discovery Island at Animal Kingdom and Sunset Boulevard at Hollywood Studios, but my goal is to work in all four parks)! I completed five days of training, including training on register, stocking, and photo zone. I have met some coworkers and leaders that have been nothing but amazing and helpful. I am so excited to start my journey in Animal Kingdom!

“A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes…”

Over 40,000 applications are submitted for the Disney College Program every semester, and I was one of 3,640 chosen. I look at that statement in awe all of the time, realizing how lucky I really am to be in Orlando. The actual process of moving around 24 hours away from home, though, is a struggle I did not think would affect me as much as it did. Leaving what was so “normal” to me – family, friends, school, work, the city… and taking a leap of faith to experience a whole new place was scary. After finally getting to meet my roommates, whom I had only talked to via Facebook and texting beforehand, I found a little more comfort in knowing that I would not be doing this alone. Six girls in one apartment: Taylor, from South Fayette, PA, Maria, from Chicago, IL, Alycia, from Dallas, TX, Gabriella, from Riverbank, CA, Eilene, from Los Angeles, CA, and myself, from Pittsburgh, PA. Although the first week was hard, I knew I was where I was meant to be. After getting my apartment key and moving in, I went straight to Disney’s Casting building with about 50 others. Paper work was filled out, fingerprints were taken, and then we were able to go back to our apartments to unpack. Traditions was the next day. Traditions at Disney is basically a “welcome” class where you learn about the program, your role, expectations, history of Disney, etc. The instructors also take you through a tour of the *underground tunnels of Magic Kingdom* (ooh, ahhh).  At the end, THE ONE AND ONLY MICKEY MOUSE delivers your first official pair of Mickey Mouse ears as a Cast Member, as well as your name tag and your Cast Member ID. That is when my story working for Disney officially began!